Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts Books

Book SynopsisThe books of the Hebrew Bible were created by anonymous writers during the first millennium before the Common Era (BCE). Their messages and concerns are the central theme of the book. The writings that make up the Hebrew Bible are expressions of their great creativity, their interpretation of life in their own time and their perception of its meaning. It is easy for readers to get lost in the minutiae of biblical criticism, which has concerned itself for so long with historical reconstruction. This book will encourage them to listen carefully to what the biblical writers are saying to allow the message of the Hebrew Bible to emerge once again. In a sense, too, the intrinsic value of the Hebrew Bible is now re-emerging, after centuries of Christian interpretation, and its importance - as a literature from which three major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have developed - is beginning to be understood. This book is not another history of Israel, nor an introduction Table of ContentsList of Contributors vii Preface xi Introduction xiii Note on Texts and Transliteration xviii List of Abbreviations xix Part I Introductory 1 1 The Hebrew World 3 2 The Authority and Use of the Hebrew Bible 23 The History of the Text 23 A Jewish Perspective 31 A Christian Perspective 37 A Muslim Perspective 43 A Humanist Perspective 47 3 Symbol and Metaphor in the Hebrew Bible 51 Part II The Torah 81 4 Genesis: History or Story? 83 The Torah: Some Preliminary Remarks 83 Genesis: the Story 86 Genesis: the Evidence 90 5 Moses 117 6 Covenant and Law 135 Part III Nebi'im: the Prophets 149 7 The Former Prophets 151 8 Jerusalem 169 9 Stories of the Prophets 185 10 Prophecy and the Prophets 203 Part IV Kethubim: the Writings 227 11 After the Exile 229 12 The Psalms 251 13 The Wisdom Books 269 14 The Five Megilloth 293 15 The Other Books 319 Glossary 345 References and Bibliography 351 Index 360

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Book SynopsisExtends the feminist examination of western literature to the founding of patriarchal culture, the Bible. The book re-thinks certain customary assumptions about feminism and about the Bible, in the light of poetic "readings" of biblical texts by 19th- and 20th-century women writers.Trade Review" Highly Recommended". Cross Currents "An essentially optimistic, as well as delightfully iconoclastic, reading of scripture." Church TimesTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Out of My Sight. 2. A Word made Flesh. 3. The Lilith Poems. 4. An Interview with Alicia Ostriker. Bibliography. Index.

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Book Synopsisaeo Provides an accessible introduction to the study of the biblea s importance for Western literature. aeo Offers students the opportunity to study the intertextual relations between literature and the bible. aeo Contains a section of additional suggested reading and a full bibliography.Trade Review"The three introductory essays they provide are approachable, authoritative and full of meat. The selections from scripture are annotated freshly and stirringly; the commentaries which introduce the literary extracts are models of compression, expanding at a later stage in the mind of the reader, as good teaching should" Julian Thompson, Tutor in English, RPC Oxford "Each biblical passage is carefully introduced, and there is a bibliography for each section. An excellent book!" International Review of Biblical Studies "A welcome addition to our resources at a time when there is an increasing emphasis on literary reading and narrative theology." Journal for the Study of the Old TestamentTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. General Introduction. Biblical and Literary Criticism: A History of Interaction: Stephen Prickett. Literary Readings of the Bible: Trends in Modern Criticism: David Jasper. Part I:. The Creation (Genesis 1-2): John Milton, Paradise Lost. Book VII. Lines 205-216. "The Spacious Firmament on High": Joseph Addison. Biographia Literaria. Chapter XIII: S.T. Coleridge. Choruses from The Rock (VII): T.S. Eliot. D. H. Lawrence, "Let There be Light". The Magician's Nephew: C.S. Lewis. Part II:. "In the Beginning was the Word" (John 1:1-18): Justin Martyr, Apology. . Divine Sonnets. No. 4: John Donne. Lectures on Revealed Religion. : S. T.Coleridge. Faust, Part 1: Goethe. The Morgan Maggiore: Lord Byron. Collected Poems No. 1651 ("A Word Made Flesh is Seldom"): Emily Dickenson. "In the Beginning was the Three-pointed Star": Dylan Thomas. Of Grammatology: Jacques Derrida. Part III:. The Fall (Genesis 3:1-3):. The City of God. "Adam Lay in Bondage": St. Augustine. Paradise Lost, Book LX. Lines 655-792: John Milton. Earl of Rochester, "The Fall": John Wilmot. "The Tree of Knowledge": Abraham Cowley. Free Fall: William Golding. Part IV:. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19): Pentateuch with Targum Onkelos, Haphtaroth and Rashi's Commentary. The City of God. 14th Century English Passion Play: Augustine. Religio Medici:Sir Thomas Browne. Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Thomas Hardy. Fear and Trembling: Soren Kierkegaard. Letter of 1921: Franx Kafka. "England, my England": D.H. Lawrence. "The Parable of the Old Man and the Young": Wilfrid Owen. Mimesis: Erich Auerbach. Part V:. Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:15-35): The City of God: Augustine. John Donne, Holy Sonnets: John Donne. No. XI. Francis Quarles, "On Jacob's Purchase". The Christian Year: John Keble. Joseph and his Brothers: Thomas Mann. Midnight's Children: Salman Rushdie. Part VI:. Wrestling Jacob (Genesis 32:22-32): Izaak Walton, The Life of John Donne. . "Wrestling Jacob": Charles Wesley. "Jacob Wrestling with the Angel": Jones Very. "Carrion Comfort": Gerald Manley Hopkins. "A little east of Jordan", Collected Poems: Emily Dickenson. No. 59. "Weeping we hold him fast tonight": Christina Rossetti. "The Struggle with the Angel: Roland Barthes. Son of Laughter: Frederick Beuchner. Part VII: . David and Bathsheba (II Samuel 11:1-13): George Peele, The Love of King David and Fair Bathsabe. . The Prologue to Penitential Psalms: Sir Thomas Wyatt. Absalom and Achitophel: John Dryden. Far From the Madding Crowd: Thomas Hardy. The Scarlet Letter: Nathaniel Hawthorne. God Knows: Joseph Heller. Bathsheba: Torgny Lindgren. Part VIII: . "The Still Small Voice" (I Kings 19:8-13): Dante, The Divine Comedy (Purgatory). . "Living Flame of Love": St. John of the Cross. The Christian Year: John Keble. "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind": John Greenleaf Whittier. The Surrender of a Cockney: G. K. Chesterton. "A Successful Summer": David Schbert. Part IX:. The Lord is My Shepherd" (Psalm 23): Miles Coverdale, Psalm 23. . Psalm 23: Thomas Sternhold. Henry V: William Shakespeare. Psalm 23: George Herbert. Psalm 23: Richard Crashaw. The Pilgrim's Progress: John Bunyan. Psalm 23: Henry Williams Baker. God Knows: Joseph Heller. The Very Model of a Man: Howard Jacobson. "Psalms":. John Hollander. Part X:. "I am a Rose of Sharon" (The Song of Songs): Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love. . Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer. (Robinson Edition). "Colin Clout Comes Home Againe": Edmund Spenser. The Doctrine and Discipline of Di'vorce, The Reason of Church Government, Paradise Lost: John Milton. "The Garden": Andrew Marvell. "In the Glorious Assumption of Our Blessed Lady": Richard Crashaw. "The Reflexion": Edward Taylor. The Name of the Rose: Umberto Eco. Part XI:. The Nativity (Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:1-19): "I sing of a maiden". "Nativitie": John Donne. "Anagram": George Herbert. On the Morning of Christ's Nativity: John Milton. Charles Wesley, "Let Earth and Heaven Combine": Charles Wesley. "A Christmas Carol": S. T. Coleridge. "The Oxen": Thomas Hardy. "Ave Maria Gratia Plena": Oscar Wilde. "I saw a stable": Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. "Mary and Gabriel": Rupert Brooke. "The Journey of the Magi": T. S. Eliot. "The Annunciation": Edward Muir. Part XII: . "The Problem of the Parables" (Mark 4:1-20): Frank Kermode, The Genesis of Secrecy. . Isaiah 6:9-13. The Gospel of Thomas. . The Rabbinic Parable (Midrash Wayyltra Rabbah) [Jerusalem, 1972]. The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer. Sonnet XVII: John Milton. The Pilgrim's Progress: John Bunyan. . The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Christopher Smart. "The Sower": William Cowper. From Either/Or: Soren Kierkegaard. "A Grammarian's Funeral": Robert Browning. The Mayor of Casterbridge: Thomas Hardy. The Violent Bear it Away: Flannery O'Connor. The Trial: Franz Kafka. Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings: Jorge Luis Borges. Part XIII:. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-30): Genesis 24:10-14. The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer. The Faerie Queen: Edmund Spenser. Silex Scintillans: Henry Vaughan. The Parables of Our Lord.:Christopher Smart. "I know where Wells grow": Emily Dickenson. Unto This Last: John Ruskin. Man and Superman: George Bernard Shaw. The Last Temptation: Nikos Kazantzakis. Jeshua: Moelwyn Merchant. Part XIV: . The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). "The Parson's Tale", from The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer. "The Prodigal Son": John Newton. The Excursion -- Lines 275-375: William Wordsworth. "A Prodigal Son": Christina Rossetti. "The Lake Isle of Innisfree: W. B. Yeats. "The Prodigal Son": Robert Bly. "The Prodigal": Elizabeth Bishop. The Return of the Prodigal Son: Henri J. M. Nouwen. Part XV:. The Crucifixion (Mark 15:33-39): The Dream of the Rood. . Stabat Mater Dolorosa. . The Wakefield Crucifixion. . Holy Sonnets, La Corona: John Donne. "Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ": Isaac Watts. Billy Budd, Sailor: Herman Melville. "At a Calvary near the Ancre": Wilfrid Owen. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: James Joyce. "Canticle for Good Friday": Geoffrey Hill. God's Gym: Divine Male Bodies of the Bible: Stephen D. Moore. Part XVI:. Jesus and Mary in the Garden (John 20:10-18):. The Apocryphal New Testament: M. R. James. The Prayers and Meditations: St. Anselm. . "Who so list to hount....": Sir Thomas Wyatt. "Mary Magdalen's Complaint at Christ's Death": Robert Southwell. Humphry Clinker: Tobais Smollett. D H Lawrence, St. Mawr: D. H. Lawrence. The Wild Girl: Michele Roberts. Part XVII:. The Conversion of St Paul (Acts of the Apostles 9:1-19): John Newton, "The Rebel's Surrender to Grace". Confessions of a Justified Sinner: James Hogg. Father and Son: Edmund Grosse. The Wreck of the Deutschland: G. M. Hopkins. The Hound of Heaven: Francis Thompson. Memoirs of the Blind: Jacques Derrida. Part XVIII:. Alpha and Omega (Revelation 21:1-18): Prudentius Aurelius Clemens, Cathemerinon. "In dulci jubilo". Paradise Lost: John Miltyon. The Pilgrim's Progress: John Bunyan. William Wordsworth, The Prelude: William Wordsworth. Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre: Charlotte Brontë. "The Last Chantrey": Rudyard Kipling. Wallace Stevens, "An Ordinary Evening in New Haven": Wallace Stevens. W H Auden, "Victor": W. H. Auden. Everything That Rises Must Converge: Flannery O'Connor. General Bibliography. Name Index.

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Book Synopsis Theology and Scriptural Imagination brings together biblical exegetes, historians of the interpretation of Scripture, as well as contemporary philosophers and theologians who practice the kind of theological reflection it will take to celebrate the Word in season and out in a world that challenges the Scriptural imagination. As in previous volumes in this series, the essays here articulate overlapping as well as competing directions in modern theology. The editors hope that readers will seek out the common ground as well as the conflicts, to learn to taste the Word when it is bitter as well as sweet.Table of ContentsEditorial Introduction. 1. Imagining the World Scripture Imagines: Luke Timothy Johnson (Emory University). 2. Figural Reading and the Fashioning of Christian Identity in Boyarin: John David Dawson (Haverford College). 3. In Defence of Allegory: Robert Louis Wilken (University of Charlottesville). 4.'We are Companions of the Patriarchs' or Scripture Absorbs Calvin's World: Kathryn Green-McCreight (New Haven). 5.'Is There a (Non-sexist) Bible in This Church?' A Feminist Case for Interpretive Communities: Mary Mclintock-Fulkerson (Duke Divinity School). 6. Two (Or More) Kinds of Scripture Scholarship: Alvin Plantinga (University of Notre Dame). 7. Scripture as Popular Text: Kathryn Tanner (University of Chicago).

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Book Synopsis* The first anthology of critical and literary theoristsa readings of the Bible. * Engages students with the different ways of making the Bible part of the a postmoderna world. * Represents a body of work which introduces new complexities, controversies and insights into biblical studies.Trade Review'Some six years after the publication of The Postmodern Bible, this reader offers a complex and challenging companion volume to the earlier work. Drawn from the work of critics, both well-known and less familiar, it offers a contextualisation of the Bible in the contemporary in essays which read against, through and with biblical texts themselves. A superb Introduction challenges the reader through the work of seven key writers from Lyotard to Zizek, expanding the terms of the debate culturally and intellectually, reminding us that 'the postmodern' is not static, but dynamic and shifting. It will provide an invaluable resource for teachers and students. Its tone is often polemical, rhetorical and always stimulating. It brings postmodernism alive again, and therefore also the Bible. For we cannot now read the Bible outside the claims of postmodernity. The book deserves a wide readership, especially, one hopes, among biblical scholars and their students.' David Jasper, University of Glasgow "...this volume is certain to become an indispensable resource for biblical scholars, theologians, seminarians, and graduate students." Teaching Theology & ReligionTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. Introduction: A Short Course in Postmodernism for Bible Readers. Epigraph: "Green Grass, Running Water" by Thomas King. Part I: Rereading the Bible:. Introduction. 1. The Structural Analysis of Narrative: Apropos of Acts 10-11: Roland Barthes. 2. On the Possibility of Generating Aesthetic Messages in an Edenic Language: Umberto Eco. 3. Reading the Bible: Julia Kristeva. 4. Introduction to the Names-of-the-Father Seminar: Jacques Lacan. 5. Dreaming in 1990: HÚlÞne Cixous. 6. Parable and Performative in the Gospels and in Modern Literature: J. Hillis Miller. 7. Body Politic: Mieke Bal. Part II: The Politics of Reading:. Introduction. 8. J. L. Austin and the Book of Jonah: Terry Eagleton. 9. The Song of Mark (Luke 1:46-55): Ernesto Cardenal. 10. A Native American Perspective: Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians: Robert Allen Warrior. 11. Slave Ideology and Biblical Interpretation: Katie Geneva Cannon. 12. Ecce Homo, Ain't (Ar'n't) I a Woman, and Inappropriate/d Others: The Human in a Post-Humanist Landscape: Donna Haraway. 13. A Pedagogy for Post-Colonial Feminists: Zakia Pathak. 14. From The Book of Sodom: Paul Hallam. Part III: The conscience of the Bible:. Introduction. 15. Meals Among Brothers: Theory of the Joker: Michel Serres. 16. The Interior Structure of Made Objects: Elaine Scarry. 17. From Ethics and Community: Enrique Dussel. 18. On the Jewish Reading of Scriptures: Emmanuel Levinas. 19. Whom to Give to (Knowing Not to Know): Jacques Derrida. 20. "Draupadi" by Mahasweta Devi: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis pioneering commentary embraces the full scope and themes raised in John''s Gospel, offering an engaging and perceptive reading. Mark Edwards explores a diverse range of excerpts and creative responses, with particular emphasis on the treatment of the Gospel in English poetry. Explores the diverse themes and issues raised in John's Gospel, and considers its influence on figures from Saint Augustine, to Dorothy Sayers and Bob Dylan. Treats well-known interpreters such as Thomas Aquinas along with lesser-known figures such as the Gnostic Heracleon, and the sixth-century hymn-writer, Romanos. Brings ancient and modern commentators into dialogue with each other, and takes a critical stance towards some parallels drawn by modern scholars between the Gospel and the surrounding pagan culture. Features excerpts from a wide variety of poets who give a creative interpretation of John's GosTrade Review"Mark Edwards' John commentary breaks new ground in the field of the reception history of biblical texts. Displaying a remarkable knowledge of its different readings, he brings into dialogue the most diverse and unexpected commentators on the text: bishops, scholars, devotional writers, poets, artists, hymn-writers, and provides the whole with a wonderfully lucid and learned survey of the history of Johannine interpretion." John Riches, Professor of Divinity with Biblical Criticism, University of Glasgow "An attractive inventory of exegetical opinion on one of the most important books of the NT. A true mine of information, published in a series that makes the life of researchers easier." International Review of Biblical Studies “The commentary provides a wonderful smorgasbord of readings and interpretations, drawn from all centuries. Thus the reader is put in touch with a representative sample of readings, interpretations and imaginative appropriations of the Gospel.” Australian Religious Studies Review "In Edwards' hands ‘reception history’ becomes a feast of allusions and references around each Johannine text. The mixture is rich and provocative, making you want to read more and more." Robert Kysar, Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching and New Testament, Candler School of Theology, Emory University "Edwards has provided New Testament scholars with a valuable resource for understanding and appreciating the history of interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. The commentary makes a persusaive case for taking seriously the richness and the value of premodern exegetical insight, artistic interpretation, and reception history for understanding the biblical text, and I look forward to other commentaries appearing in the series." William M. Wright, Emory Universitiy Table of ContentsList of Illustrations. Series Editors' Preface. Acknowledgements. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: the Gospel and its Interpreters. Christ the Word: John 1.1-18. The Baptist’s Testimony: John 1.19-51. Symbols of Purity: Chapter 2. The New Birth: John 2.23-4.2. The Samaritan: Chapter 4. Two Healings and their Aftermath: 4.46-5.47. Bread from Heaven: Chapter 6. Ministry in Jerusalem: Chapters 7 and 8. Parables of the Messiah: Chapters 9 and 10. The Raising of Lazarus: Chapter 11. Preparing for Death: Chapters 12 and 13. Christ and Spirit: Chapter 14. Valedictory: Chapters 15-17. Arrest and Trial: Chapter 18. The Crucifixion: Chapter 19. The Resurrection: Chapter 20. The Final Commission: Chapter 21. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisThis pioneering commentary embraces the full scope and themes raised in John''s Gospel, offering an engaging and perceptive reading. Mark Edwards explores a diverse range of excerpts and creative responses, with particular emphasis on the treatment of the Gospel in English poetry. Explores the diverse themes and issues raised in John's Gospel, and considers its influence on figures from Saint Augustine, to Dorothy Sayers and Bob Dylan. Treats well-known interpreters such as Thomas Aquinas along with lesser-known figures such as the Gnostic Heracleon, and the sixth-century hymn-writer, Romanos. Brings ancient and modern commentators into dialogue with each other, and takes a critical stance towards some parallels drawn by modern scholars between the Gospel and the surrounding pagan culture. Features excerpts from a wide variety of poets who give a creative interpretation of John's GosTrade Review"Mark Edwards' John commentary breaks new ground in the field of the reception history of biblical texts. Displaying a remarkable knowledge of its different readings, he brings into dialogue the most diverse and unexpected commentators on the text: bishops, scholars, devotional writers, poets, artists, hymn-writers, and provides the whole with a wonderfully lucid and learned survey of the history of Johannine interpretion." John Riches, Professor of Divinity with Biblical Criticism, University of Glasgow "An attractive inventory of exegetical opinion on one of the most important books of the NT. A true mine of information, published in a series that makes the life of researchers easier." International Review of Biblical Studies “The commentary provides a wonderful smorgasbord of readings and interpretations, drawn from all centuries. Thus the reader is put in touch with a representative sample of readings, interpretations and imaginative appropriations of the Gospel.” Australian Religious Studies Review "In Edwards' hands ‘reception history’ becomes a feast of allusions and references around each Johannine text. The mixture is rich and provocative, making you want to read more and more." Robert Kysar, Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching and New Testament, Candler School of Theology, Emory University "Edwards has provided New Testament scholars with a valuable resource for understanding and appreciating the history of interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. The commentary makes a persusaive case for taking seriously the richness and the value of premodern exegetical insight, artistic interpretation, and reception history for understanding the biblical text, and I look forward to other commentaries appearing in the series." William M. Wright, Emory Universitiy Table of ContentsList of Illustrations. Series Editors' Preface. Acknowledgements. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: the Gospel and its Interpreters. Christ the Word: John 1.1-18. The Baptist’s Testimony: John 1.19-51. Symbols of Purity: Chapter 2. The New Birth: John 2.23-4.2. The Samaritan: Chapter 4. Two Healings and their Aftermath: 4.46-5.47. Bread from Heaven: Chapter 6. Ministry in Jerusalem: Chapters 7 and 8. Parables of the Messiah: Chapters 9 and 10. The Raising of Lazarus: Chapter 11. Preparing for Death: Chapters 12 and 13. Christ and Spirit: Chapter 14. Valedictory: Chapters 15-17. Arrest and Trial: Chapter 18. The Crucifixion: Chapter 19. The Resurrection: Chapter 20. The Final Commission: Chapter 21. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xiii Series Editors’ Preface xix Acknowledgments xxi Testimonia xxv Jeremiah the Man xxv The Book xxvii Actualizations xxix Introduction 1 Theory and Practice of Reception History 3 Jeremiah in Three Guises 4 Jeremiah in Antiquity 5 Medieval Jeremiahs 17 Early Modernity 24 Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 47 Practical Notes for Using the Commentary 64 Jeremiah 1 67 Word of the Lord or Words of Jeremiah? (Jer 1:1) 67 Jeremiah Before Birth (1:4–5) 69 A Prophet to the Nations (1:5) 77 Resisting God (1:6) 77 Filling Jeremiah’s Mouth 81 The Job Description (1:10) 82 God’s Pun (1:11–12) 84 What’s Cooking? (1:13–16) 88 Jeremiah 2 93 God’s Lawsuit (2:1–13) 94 Leaky Cisterns or Living Water? (2:12–13) 95 A Puzzling Verb Becomes a Word of Salvation (2:20) 98 Prophetic Pornography (2:20–25) 99 Jeremiah in the Synagogue (2:4–28) 101 Jeremiah 3 103 A Rare Allusion to God the Father (3:4,19) 103 Holy Forgetting (3:15–18) 105 3:24–25 106 Jeremiah 4 107 A Subversive Translation (4:1–2) 107 The Circumcised Heart (4:4) 108 Reading Metaphor (4:7) 109 Does God Deceive? (4:9–10) 110 Body and Soul (4:19–22) 110 Apocalypse Now (4:23–28) 112 Contradiction as Problem and Opportunity (4:27) 113 Dressing Down a Gussied‐Up Female (4:29–31) 113 Jeremiah 5 115 Nothing Bad Will Happen to Us (5:12) 115 Divine Fire Consuming Human Wood (5:14) 116 An Appalling and Horrible Thing (5:30–31) 118 Contents ix Jeremiah 6 119 Two Roads Diverged (6:16) 119 Buying Salvation (6:20) 120 Jeremiah as Fortress and/or Refiner (6:27) 120 Jeremiah 7 123 A Den of Thieves (7:1–15) 123 A Troubling Contradiction (7:21–24) 124 Jeremiah 8 127 Reading Jeremiah as Science (8:7) 127 The Balm of Gilead (8:22) 130 Jeremiah 9 135 A Fountain of Tears (9,1,18) 135 Internalizing the Prophet’s Cry (9:2) 140 Death Climbs in the Windows (9:21) 141 Jeremiah 10 145 Superstition and Science (10:2–5) 145 Who Will Not Fear You? (10:7) 147 Wise Fools (10:12–16) 147 Humans Are Not Masters of Themselves (10:23–24) 149 Correct Me, O Lord (10:24) 151 Pour Out Thy Wrath (10:25) 151 Jeremiah 11 153 Let Us Put Wood in his Bread (11:19) 153 Jeremiah 12 157 A Lawsuit Against God (12:1–4) 157 Shameful Revenues (12:13) 160 Jeremiah 13 161 Jeremiah’s Loincloth (13:1–11) 161 Jeremiah’s Tears (13:17) 164 Unsettling Images (13: 22–27) 164 Jeremiah 14 167 The Inn and the Manger (14:7–9) 167 Jeremiah 15 169 Saints Alive (15:1) 169 Woe is Me, My Mother (15:10) 170 Changing Fashions in Prayer (15:15) 171 Is Jeremiah Blasphemous? (15:18) 172 A Divine Reprimand Reconsidered (15:19) 174 Jeremiah 16 177 Prophetic Celibacy (16:1–4) 177 Hunters and Fishers (16:16–18) 179 Jeremiah 17 181 Misplaced Trust (17:5) 181 Is the Human Heart Deep, or Depraved? (17:9–10) 182 The Partridge (17:11) 185 Jeremiah 18 187 The Surprise of Divine Freedom (18:1–12) 187 Jeremiah 19 193 Jeremiah Smashes a Jug 193 Jeremiah 20–21 197 Jeremiah in the Stocks (20:1–6) 197 Divine Deception (20:7) 199 Whose Violence and Destruction? (20:8) 207 A Reproach and a Derision (20:8) 207 A Burning Fire (20:9) 208 Do Saints Curse? (20:13–18) 212 Jeremiah 22 219 The Burial of an Ass (22:18–19) 219 Jeremiah and the Lost Ark (22:29) 220 Jeremiah 23 223 The Righteous Branch (23:5–6) 223 False Prophets (23:9–40) 226 Jeremiah 24 229 Two Baskets of Figs (24:1–10) 229 Jeremiah 25 231 The Cup of the Wine of Wrath (25:15–31) 232 Jeremiah 26–28 235 Jeremiah’s Yoke (Jer 27:2; 28:1–17) 235 False Prophets 237 Jeremiah 29 239 Build and Plant (29:1–6) 240 Praying for the Enemy (29:7) 240 Seventy Years (29:10) 242 God’s Inscrutable Plans (29:11) 244 Jeremiah as Contemporary Prophet (Jer 29:19) 245 Jeremiah 30–31 247 Hope in the Midst of Trauma (30:1–3) 247 Rachel Weeps in Every Century (31:15–17) 248 Gender‐Bending (31:22) 250 The New Covenant (31:31–34) 252 Jeremiah 32–33 257 A Strange Real Estate Deal 257 Jeremiah 34 259 Taking Back the Gift of Freedom (34:8–22) 259 Jeremiah 35 261 Jeremiah 36 267 Free Will and Divine Omniscience (36:3, 7) 268 Word, Scroll, Book (36:2, 5, 18) 268 Jehoiakim as Perennial Tyrant (36:20–26) 269 Words and the Word (36:27) 272 Jeremiah 37–38 277 Dungeon and Cistern 277 Ancient Allegories (38:1–13) 278 A Model for Political Resistance (38:1–16) 280 The Cistern as Spiritual Prison (38:1–6). 285 Ebed‐Melek Rescues Jeremiah (38:7–13) 287 Jeremiah’s Lie (38:24–27) 295 Jeremiah 39 299 Zedekiah Captured (39:4–7) 299 Ebed‐Melech Becomes Abimelech (39:15–18) 301 Jeremiah 40–43 303 How Did the Prophet Escape the Burning City? (40:1–6) 304 The Murder of Gedaliah (40:7– 41:17) 305 How Long, O Lord? (42:7) 305 The Stones of Tahpanhes (43:8–13) 306 Jeremiah 44 309 Uppity Women (44:15–19) 310 Martyrdom of Jeremiah 312 Jeremiah 45 319 Jeremiah 46–51 323 Babylon, the Golden Cup in God’s Hand (51:7) 325 Jeremiah Speaks to a War‐Torn Twentieth Century (51:11) 326 Thus Far the Words of Jeremiah (51:59–64) 328 Glossary 329 Brief Biography 333 Bibliography 341 Index 357

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Book SynopsisPresents a commentary on "The Revelation to John" (the Apocalypse) that reveals its far-reaching influence on society and culture, and its impact on the church through the ages. This title looks at interpretations of the Apocalypse by theologians, ranging from Augustine to late twentieth century liberation theologians.Trade Review"This volume on the Book of Revelation is a stunning achievement. Since the authors are also the editors of the overall project, it is certainly a good sign for the series as a whole." First Things "The present commentary on Revelation ... the first to be published in the series, is a full success. If you have little space on your shelves for biblical commentaries, I would advise you to throw the other commentaries out and keep this one." International Review of Biblical Studies “In giving a sense of how these biblical texts have been read and interpreted by generations of readers these commentaries succeed admirably. They will educate, illuminate, surprise, and delight.” Australian Religious Studies Review "The reader will come away with a good general sense of just how powerful this text has been in the Christian Church." Epworth Review "The reader is provided with a good range of readings, and ways in which the text has been appropriated byt he church, and in music, art and literature." Colloquium "Judith Kovacs and Christopher Rowland give us something new – an in-depth analysis that emphasizes the reception history of the Apocalypse, its significance for later theology, literature, and art. The result is an eye-opening book that will dramatically change how readers understand the last book of the Bible and its role in Western history. This is a rich and fascinating work." Bernard McGinn, Divinity School, University of Chicago "This is a rich and multifaceted commentary on Revelation that includes highlights from the whole range of the history of interpretation and reception of the work. Special attention is given to the role the book has played in art, literature and music, both within the churches and without. It should be required reading in any course on Revelation." Adela Yarbro Collins, Yale University Divinity SchoolTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. Series Editor’s Preface. Preface. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: The Apocalypse in History: The Place of the Book of Revelation in Christian Theology and Life. 1. The Apocalypse in the Context of Jewish and Early Christian Literature. 2. Differing Patterns in the Reception of the Apocalypse: A Summary. 3. Point of View: Distinctive Emphases of this Commentary. 4. The Reception of the Apocalypse: Survey of Important Interpretations and of Artistic Representations. Revelation 1. Revelation 2 and 3. Revelation 4. Revelation 5. Revelation 6. Revelation 7. Revelation 8. Revelation 9. Revelation 10. Revelation 11. Revelation 12. Revelation 13. Revelation 14. Revelation 15. Revelation 16. Revelation 17. Revelation 18. Revelation 19. Revelation 20. Revelation 21. Revelation 22. A Hermeneutical Postscript: Evaluating the Readings. Biographies and Glossary. Bibliography. Old Testament References Listed in the Margin of Nestle-Aland 26th Edition of the Greek New Testament Text of Revelation. Index of Biblical References. General Index.

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Book SynopsisThis ground-breaking commentary on The Revelation to John (the Apocalypse) reveals its far-reaching influence on society and culture, and its impact on the church through the ages. Explores the far-reaching influence of the Apocalypse on society and culture. Shows the book''s impact on the Christian church through the ages. Looks at interpretations of the Apocalypse by theologians, ranging from Augustine to late twentieth century liberation theologians. Considers the book''s effects on writers, artists, musicians, political figures, visionaries, and others, including Dante, Hildegard of Bingen, Milton, Newton, the English Civil war radicals, Turner, Blake, Handel, and Franz Schmidt. Provides access to material not readily available elsewhere. Will appeal to students and scholars across a wide range of disciplines, as well as to general readers. Trade Review"This volume on the Book of Revelation is a stunning achievement. Since the authors are also the editors of the overall project, it is certainly a good sign for the series as a whole." First Things "The present commentary on Revelation ... the first to be published in the series, is a full success. If you have little space on your shelves for biblical commentaries, I would advise you to throw the other commentaries out and keep this one." International Review of Biblical Studies “In giving a sense of how these biblical texts have been read and interpreted by generations of readers these commentaries succeed admirably. They will educate, illuminate, surprise, and delight.” Australian Religious Studies Review "The reader will come away with a good general sense of just how powerful this text has been in the Christian Church." Epworth Review "The reader is provided with a good range of readings, and ways in which the text has been appropriated byt he church, and in music, art and literature." Colloquium "Judith Kovacs and Christopher Rowland give us something new – an in-depth analysis that emphasizes the reception history of the Apocalypse, its significance for later theology, literature, and art. The result is an eye-opening book that will dramatically change how readers understand the last book of the Bible and its role in Western history. This is a rich and fascinating work." Bernard McGinn, Divinity School, University of Chicago "This is a rich and multifaceted commentary on Revelation that includes highlights from the whole range of the history of interpretation and reception of the work. Special attention is given to the role the book has played in art, literature and music, both within the churches and without. It should be required reading in any course on Revelation." Adela Yarbro Collins, Yale University Divinity School Table of ContentsList of Illustrations. Series Editor’s Preface. Preface. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: The Apocalypse in History: The Place of the Book of Revelation in Christian Theology and Life. 1. The Apocalypse in the Context of Jewish and Early Christian Literature. 2. Differing Patterns in the Reception of the Apocalypse: A Summary. 3. Point of View: Distinctive Emphases of this Commentary. 4. The Reception of the Apocalypse: Survey of Important Interpretations and of Artistic Representations. Revelation 1. Revelation 2 and 3. Revelation 4. Revelation 5. Revelation 6. Revelation 7. Revelation 8. Revelation 9. Revelation 10. Revelation 11. Revelation 12. Revelation 13. Revelation 14. Revelation 15. Revelation 16. Revelation 17. Revelation 18. Revelation 19. Revelation 20. Revelation 21. Revelation 22. A Hermeneutical Postscript: Evaluating the Readings. Biographies and Glossary. Bibliography. Old Testament References Listed in the Margin of Nestle-Aland 26th Edition of the Greek New Testament Text of Revelation. Index of Biblical References. General Index.

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Book SynopsisReconstructions of Jesus occurred in Asia long before the Western search for the historical Jesus began in earnest. Asians remade Jesus at times appreciatively and at other times critically. R. S. Sugirtharajah situates the historical Jesus beyond the narrow confines of the West and offers an eye-opening chapter in the story of global Christianity.Trade ReviewA stimulating and provocative book that shows how Asians—like people around the world—have been trying for centuries to make the man from Galilee one of their own. -- Ian Johnson * New York Review of Books *Splendid…A fascinating, half-forgotten intellectual journey which is brought fully to life by Sugirtharajah’s painstaking ‘excavations of Asian resources.’ -- Jonathan Wright * Catholic Herald *[An] excellent book…Sugirtharajah brings together some fascinating parts of the global and perpetually expanding biography of Jesus…Jesus in Asia deserves to be read widely. -- Chad M. Bauman * Christian Century *Sugirtharajah’s detailed examination of…Asian treatments of Jesus reveals a startling variety among them…[He] has admirably filled a gap that most readers, including scholars specializing in the study of Jesus, are not even aware of. -- Luke Timothy Johnson * Commonweal *Sugirtharajah…opens up Jesus to an Asian outlook…His book will constitute a revelation for most Christian readers…His book is a pleasure to read. -- Robert A. Segal * Times Higher Education *[Sugirtharajah] has distilled his wide-ranging research and thinking into an impressive volume. -- Philip Jenkins * Christian Century *Jesus in Asia is a marvelous achievement… Sugirtharajah presents an equally elegant and unexpected portrait of a number of Jesuses according to Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Jain, and Christian traditions… Succeeds in correcting common misconceptions by highlighting the important and overlooked contributions of Asian writers on the historical Jesus. -- Wongi Park * Horizons in Biblical Theology *Makes for interesting and even provocative reading. Sugirtharajah brings to light a number of marginalized biographies of Jesus—works largely forgotten in both the East and the West. -- W. J. Pankey * Choice *Sugirtharajah maintains that Western scholars’ ‘quest for the historical Jesus,’ has wrongly dismissed Eastern reconstructions as parochial and lacking scientific objectivity. Sugirtharajah counters with systematic and critical evaluations of Eastern contributions to the life of Jesus that span from the seventh century CE to the present day…A necessary corrective. -- James Wetherbee * Library Journal *Sugirtharajah’s trenchant book will be useful to anyone looking for an introduction to some of the many Asian representations of Christ. * Publishers Weekly *Written by a distinguished scholar of Christianity and postcolonial studies, Jesus in Asia broadens our historical memory and enlivens our religious imagination. This book sharply contests the historical quest of Jesus in the West, and is remarkable in its broad historical and cultural reach—an invaluable recovery of Asian representations of Jesus. -- Kwok Pui-lan, author of Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist TheologyJesus in Asia is an extraordinary gift. With great erudition, Sugirtharajah illuminates a broad history of previously neglected writings on Jesus, across many centuries and from diverse parts of Asia, by Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, and Jain scholars. By placing Jesus within Asian cultures and religions, this book offers a necessary challenge to the isolationism of Western Jesus studies. -- Halvor Moxnes, author of Jesus and the Rise of Nationalism: A New Quest for the Nineteenth-Century Historical Jesus

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Book SynopsisThis second volume of a projected six-volume set of the complete Vulgate Bible presents the Historical Books of the Bible, which tell of Joshua’s leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, the leadership of judges and kings, Israel’s steady departure from many of God’s precepts, the Babylonian Captivity, and the return of Israel from exile.

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Book SynopsisIn this bold exploration of the political theory of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, Burt shows that God’s authority is no less inherently problematic and in need of justification than the legitimacy of secular government. He paints a surprising picture of the ambivalent, mutually dependent relationship between God and his peoples.Trade ReviewBurt’s discussions provide many useful and challenging insights. He demonstrates the difficulty inherent in the relationship of authority between rulers and ruled, whether human or divine. -- A. J. Waskey * Choice *Burt’s study of the interaction of divinity and humanity in establishing authority, divine and human alike, in the Bible is a closer literary reading of the entire Bible than most on offer from either divinity schools or literature departments. Yet his interest as a professor of law in contrasting the reciprocal establishment of mutually heteronomous authority in the Bible with the unilateral establishment of autonomous authority in modern political theory gives his work the forward thrust of a courtroom argument. The book of Job, in which the protagonist calls God’s authority into explicit question, and then God, from the whirlwind, calls the protagonist’s standing into question, becomes here the fulcrum of a study that brilliantly establishes this problematic as common to the Old and the New Testaments alike. -- Jack Miles * Common Knowledge *Many of Burt’s arguments are enlightening and theologically sophisticated… Burt uses the Bible as a prism through which to reassess the modern obsession with analyzing and defining legitimate political power… Burt’s book is full of thought-provoking ideas and it goes to show that law professors can sometimes turn out to be accomplished and challenging biblical interpreters. -- Jonathan Wright * Catholic Herald *A work highly recommended not only for Bible students and political scientists but also for general readers who welcome new approaches to both sacred texts and contemporary political concerns and discourse. -- Carolyn M. Craft * Library Journal *The plot of the Hebrew Bible is a grail in the vault of a mountain fastness, and it may be that no assault will ever quite take it, if it is even there to be taken, but what a siege Robert Burt has mounted! The closest of readings, the subtlest and most seductive of midrashic inferences, the severest of ethical verdicts, all with the precision of a first-rate legal mind and the wrestling effrontery of Job. -- Jack Miles, author of God: A BiographyIn this intriguing and moving book, Robert Burt reads the Bible as a tragic vision of the gap between perfect justice and what humans actually can achieve. Burt movingly unpacks the Biblical stories to argue that they show God and human beings constantly attempting to find their way to love and trust, through constant disappointments. -- Suzanne Last Stone, Cardozo School of Law

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Book SynopsisHalbertal provides a panoramic survey of Jewish attitudes toward Scripture, provocatively organized around problems of normative and formative authority, with an emphasis on the changing status and functions of Mishnah, Talmud, and Kabbalah.Trade ReviewHalbertal offers a sophisticated analysis of the development of Jewish text-centered cultures. His work is an important study for the history of interpretation within Judaism, though its significance as a model of how text-centered religions think extends even beyond Judaism...The work would make an excellent classroom introduction to the nature of the role that canonization plays in religions whose experience of the divine is mediated by the interpretation of sacred texts. This book is best suited to the philosophically sophisticated lay reader and to students or scholars of the sociology of religion. It should certainly be included among the holdings of all general, theological, and religious studies research libraries. -- Robert H. O'Connell * Library Journal *At once an introduction to Jewish hermeneutics, a reflection of canonicity, and a survey of Jewish politics of interpretation, this volume is lucidly composed and amply documented…This work is especially significant for its balanced and nuanced consideration of the "canonization of controversy" in Jewish thought. Particularly successful is Halbertal's use of his preferred expository device, the extended interpretation of selected controversies. Such closes analyses as, for example, those on R. Yair Bakhrakh and on the Maimonidean controversy are especially interesting. His probing review of philosophical and Kabbalistic challengers to Talmudism and his reflections on the Zionist turn from Talmud toward the Bible are careful and informative, yet also provocative. A desirable addition to undergraduate and graduate libraries. -- Steven M. Wasserstrom * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Canonical Text and Text-Centered Community PART 1: CANON AND MEANING 1. The Uses of Canon 2. The Sealed Canon 3. Authority and Sealing 4. The Meaning of the Canonical Text 5. Canon and the Principle of Charity 6. Textual Closure and Hermeneutical Openness 7. Uncharitable Readings of Canons PART 2: AUTHORITY, CONTROVERSY, AND TRADITION 8. Authorial Intention and Authoritative Meaning 9. Canon and Controversy 10. Three Views on Controversy and Tradition 11. From a Flexible Canon to a Closed Code 12. The Institution and the Canon PART 3: CANON AND CURRICULUM 13. Formative Text 14. The Concept of Torah in "Talmud Torah" 15. The Challengers of Talmudism 16. Codification and Decanonization 17. Esotericism and Censorship 18. Kabbalists and the Talmudic Curriculum 19. Strong Canonicity and Shared Discourse Conclusion Appendix: The Sovereign and the Canon Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis book, the most detailed and comprehensive study of pao-chüan in any language, studies 34 early examples in order to understand the origins and development of this textual tradition. Although it focuses on content and structure, it also treats the social context of these works, as well as their transmission and ritual use.Trade ReviewOvermyer is one of the leading scholars who have revolutionized the study of Chinese religions… Although we are introduced to many precious volumes in this book, because he provides generous translations of key passages from the ones he discusses, we come away with clear ideas about their structures and contents. His translation is flawless and elegant… One cannot have a full understanding of Chinese religions without a knowledge of this tradition. Thanks to his dedicated research resulting in this important work, future students interested in this subject now have an indispensable guide. -- Chun-Fang Yu * Journal of Asian Studies *

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Book SynopsisHow does performing affect those who perform? Starting from observation of the intergenerational tradition of performing the Song of Moses, Keith A. Stone provides a close reading of the text of the Song and explores ways in which the Song contributes to Deuteronomy's educational program through the dynamics of reenactment.

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Book SynopsisOffers a philosophical meditation on the problem of evil. This title uses the Genesis story of the Fall as the starting point for a profound articulation of the human condition. It shows us that evil expresses the rage of a subject who knows both that he is an image of an infinite God and that he must die.Trade Review"A book which begins with the sentence 'Evil makes us Human' must surely compel attention. This is no ordinary account of what is usually meant by the problem of evil... Instead, Paul W. Kahn's aim is to explore the nature of evil itself... A rich and fascinating book full of unusual conjunctions and insights."--John Habgood, Times Literary Supplement "Kahn makes a powerful case for the reality of good (which he calls 'love') as a form of self-sacrifice, and of its opposite, evil, which constitutes a denial of one's finitude."--Whitley R. P. Kaufman, Philosophy in Review "Brilliant and essential... [Kahn] establishes an enormously clarifying political theology of modernity, one that investigates the limits of our contemporary imagination."--Igor Webb, Common Review "In Out of Eden, Paul W. Kahn ... argues that the human condition--rather than political or social conditions--is the locus of evil. Using the lenses of political and cultural theory, law, and philosophy, Kahn takes a hard look at modern forms of evil, namely slavery, torture, and genocide. Evil, Kahn posits, in an existential problem."--Yale Law ReportTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction: The Study of Evil 1 Chapter 1: A Preliminary Meditation on Oedipus and Adam 16 Chapter 2: Evil and the Image of the Sacred 53 Chapter 3: Love and Evil 106 Chapter 4: Political Evil: Slavery and the Shame of Nature 143 Chapter 5: Political Evil: Killing, Sacrifice, and the Image of God 174 Conclusion: Tragedy, Comedy, and the Banality of Evil 211 Index 223

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""This book is intended for the curious."---Brent Niedergall, Reading Religion"The Book of Revelation is a breathtaking book."---A.L. Kolp, Choice Reviews"As such, The Book of Revelation really is so much more than A Biography; it’s an engaging andprovocative account of a book that even the likes of Augustine and Martin Luther occasionally struggledto come to terms with."---David Marx, davidmarxbookreviews"This attractively produced book sits in Princeton University Press's Lives of Great Religious Books series, and offers an accessible, thoughtful and wide-ranging review of the afterlife of the book of Revelation."---Alison M. Jack, Journal for the Study of The New Testament"Beal’s Book of Revelation is an exciting read . . . . one gains a richer appreciation to the many ways in which Revelation is embedded within the apocalyptic imagination of culture today"---Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III, Nuncius

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewLong-listed for the 2017 Jewish Quarterly Wingate Prize "It's refreshing to read a Jewish book on death that does not presume to offer guidance, either through that dark portal, or around it. Instead, Hillel Halkin ... has written a brief, pellucid account of the role death has played in Jewish texts, law, thought and lives--including his own."--Esther Schor, Wall Street Journal "[A]n accessible and trenchant exploration of Judaism's evolving concepts of death with his own struggle with understanding it... Halkin's frankness about his own difficulties in coming to terms with his parents' deaths and traditional Jewish rituals such as sitting shiva help make this nuanced quest for meaning personal and affecting."--Publisher's Weekly "By combining historical examples with his firsthand experiences, Halkin has created a well-rounded and thoroughly readable examination of how Jews face the unknown."--Jeff Fleischer, Foreword "Literary scholar, premier translator of Hebrew and Yiddish literatures, depth reporter on modern Israeli life, and on the far side of 75, Halkin is just the man to condense the riches of Jewish thanatology... What begins as analytic history ends in deeply moving, reflective memoir."--Ray Olson, Booklist "A very user-friendly historical account of Jewish ideas about death ... and how those ideas change... [Halkin] is a master at 'popularisation' in the best sense of that term, bringing to a non-academic audience what are, in essence, some very complicated ideas."--David Hillel-Ruben, Jewish Chronicle "Hillel Halkin, an American-born Israeli scholar and novelist, poignantly explores his own experiences while providing a history of Jewish thought."--Amy Frykholm, Christian Century "Hillel Halkin's After One-Hundred-and-Twenty: Reflecting on Death, Mourning and the Afterlife in Jewish Tradition is both instructive and thought-provoking... One would be hard-pressed to find a more knowledgeable or astute guide through the vast literature of Jewish thanatology than Hillel Halkin... Warm and affable, Hillel Halkin is also one of the flat-out brainiest persons I've ever met... The Biggest of Mysteries being tackled by one of our best and brightest."--Matt Nesvisky, Jerusalem Post "As he completes the eighth decade of his life, the distinguished author, critic, translator, and journalist Hillel Halkin ruminates in this learned and beautifully written book on mortality, including his own, and 'death, mourning, and the afterlife in the Jewish tradition'... Anyone interested in the history of Jewish views concerning the afterlife and changing Jewish thinking about death from biblical times to the present should begin with this volume."--Choice "At once scholarly and passionate, secular and religious, detached and autobiographical."--Edward Alexander, Chicago Jewish Star "Charming, frankly vulnerable, and deceptively deep book about death."--Abraham Socher, Jewish Review of BooksTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*BY WAY OF AN INTRODUCTION, pg. 1*CHAPTER ONE, pg. 9*CHAPTER TWO, pg. 43*CHAPTER THREE, pg. 89*CHAPTER FOUR, pg. 137*CHAPTER FIVE, pg. 177

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Long-listed for the 2017 Jewish Quarterly Wingate Prize""It's refreshing to read a Jewish book on death that does not presume to offer guidance, either through that dark portal, or around it. Instead, Hillel Halkin . . . has written a brief, pellucid account of the role death has played in Jewish texts, law, thought and lives--including his own."---Esther Schor, Wall Street Journal"Halkin combines an accessible and trenchant exploration of Judaism's evolving concepts of death with his own struggle with understanding it. He leavens what could be a depressing read with humor. . . . Halkin's frankness about his own difficulties . . . help make this nuanced quest for meaning personal and affecting." * Publishers Weekly *"Well-rounded and thoroughly readable."---Jeff Fleischer, ForeWord"Deeply moving."---Ray Olson, Booklist"A very user-friendly historical account of Jewish ideas about death . . . and how those ideas change. . . . [Halkin] is a master at 'popularisation' in the best sense of that term, bringing to a non-academic audience what are, in essence, some very complicated ideas."---David Hillel-Ruben, Jewish Chronicle"Hillel Halkin, an American-born Israeli scholar and novelist, poignantly explores his own experiences while providing a history of Jewish thought."---Amy Frykholm, Christian Century"Instructive and thought-provoking. . . . One would be hard-pressed to find a more knowledgeable or astute guide through the vast literature of Jewish thanatology than Hillel Halkin. . . . The Biggest of Mysteries being tackled by one of our best and brightest."---Matt Nesvisky, Jerusalem Post"Learned and beautifully written." * Choice *"At once scholarly and passionate, secular and religious, detached and autobiographical."---Edward Alexander, Chicago Jewish Star"Charming, frankly vulnerable, and deceptively deep."---Abraham Socher, Jewish Review of Books"In this important new book, Hillel Halkin explores Jewish attitudes towards death and the world to come. . . . A highly readable book which provokes reflection on an often uncomfortable subject. It would prove a valuable resource for all those involved in the field of pastoral care."---Randall C. Belinfante, Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Hugely entertaining and irreverent."---Adam Gopnik, New Yorker"In a series of short essays, [Alter] delves into the minutiae of word choice, syntax and rhythm that make up the substance of a translator’s work." * New York Times Book Review *"In this slim work, Mr. Alter sets out the principles that govern his translation while also delivering his pointed commentary on almost all other modern versions."---Eric Ormsby, Wall Street Journal"Alter provides a refreshing look into the complex work of translating the Bible." * Publishers Weekly *"Alter’s book is a short masterclass in how to appreciate biblical language. We may read through the veil of translation but it helps us glimpse the colour of the original."---Simon Rocker, Jewish Chronicle"An essential companion volume to [Alter’s] own translations."---Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal"In The Art of Bible Translation, Alter provides an intriguing insight into the complexities he faced in producing, single-handed, his translation of the Hebrew Bible. It makes fascinating reading."---Neville Teller, Jerusalem Post

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive study interprets Paradise Lost as a rhetoric of literary forms, by attending to the broad spectrum of literary genres, modes, and exemplary works Milton incorporates within that poem. Originally published in 1985. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-pTable of Contents*FrontMatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*Preface, pg. ix*Abbreviations, pg. xi*Chapter 1. Paradise Lost As Encyclopedic Epic: The Uses Of Literary Forms, pg. 1*Chapter 2. Inspiration and Literary Art: The Prophet-Poets of Paradise Lost, pg. 25*Chapter 3. "Argument Heroic Deem'd": The Genres of the Satanic Heroic Mode, pg. 55*Chapter 4. "Semblance of Worth, not Substance": The Discursive and Lyric Genres of the Damned, pg. 79*Chapter 5. "Other Excellence": Generic Multiplicity and Milton's Literary God, pg. 110*Chapter 6. "Our Happy State": Literary Forms for Angelic Wholeness, pg. 140*Chapter 7. "A Happy Rural Seat of Various View": Pastoral Idyl and the Genres of Edenic Innocence, pg. 173*Chapter 8. "Our Pleasant Labor": Georgic and Comedic Modes and Genres in Eden, pg. 196*Chapter 9. "I Now Must Change Those Notes to Tragic": The Fall and the Tragic Genres, pg. 220*Chapter 10. "Not Less but More Heroic": Prophecy and the Transformation of Literary Forms, pg. 254*Notes, pg. 281*Index, pg. 361

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisReading the Bible as Literature provides the ideal entry-point to the process of reading, understanding, and assessing what many recognize to be the important and powerful literature of the Bible. Such reading holds potential for helping students understand literature generally and the Bible in itself. The book introduces the tools of literary analysis, including: language and style, the formal structures of genre (narrative, drama, and poetry), character study, and thematic analysis. The overall organizational structure of the book proceeds incrementally from basic literary elements to higher units of form. Each chapter includes an outline, preliminary considerations that provide background and insight into scholarly debates, and an explanation of the literary qualities of the primary text through specific examples, exercises, and directions for further study. The book emphasizes the act of reading itself, focusing upon the whole text as it exists in iTrade Review"The extremely well structured discussion, the tone and method of delivery and the thought put into every explication of the numerous Biblical episodes reveal the conscientiousness with which this book was threaded together. As such, this text is not only significant for the uninitiated student of literature but also for the academic who may wish to use it as resource book when teaching this classical text."Southeast Asian Review of English "Dr Crain's book offers undergraduates an invaluable means of studying the biblical texts, systematically demonstrating how applying a host of different literary techniques can help illuminate the biblical writers' message. By analyzing the use of such rhetorical devices as image, metaphor, archetype, narration, and character portrayal, Dr Crain equips students to interpret the Bible responsibly and effectively."Stephen Harris, California State University, Sacramento "Reading the Bible as Literature has three overarching virtues in addition to its myriad individual insights into both literature and the Bible: it is a comprehensive introduction to the literary forms of the Bible; it is wonderfully systematic in its approach to the material; it is copious in its coverage of published scholarship on the Bible as literature."Leland Ryken, Wheaton College "Reading the Bible as Literature is a solid and sure introduction to the field. Crain hits all the bases here. She manages, through her conversational approach and well-designed additions, to create a resource which will serve as a strong introduction to an important field."David G. Miller, Mississippi College "As a teacher of the Bible, I often find students reading not the text itself, but instead recalling what they have heard about it. I am pleased to see Dr Crain opening up the biblical text to students once again."John Strong, Missouri State University Table of ContentsPreface. 1. Reading the Bible as Literature. 2. Style, Tone, and Rhetorical Strategy. 3. Image, Metaphor, Symbol and Archetype. 4. Major Genres. 5. Sub-Genres. 6. Character. 7. Themes and Motifs: A Way of Unifying. Conclusion. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Navid Kermani has written one of the most insightful books on religion to appear in decades.”Susannah Heschel, Dartmouth CollegeTable of ContentsPreface I. The First Listeners II. The Text III. The Sound IV. The Miracle V. The Prophet among the Poets VI. The Sufi Listeners Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn the Lord's Prayer, Jesus gave us not only a model for speaking with God but also a guide to spiritual growth! These simple phrases point to Jesus' teachings on community, love, holiness, resisting temptation, and more. Join David Timms as he examines each familiar phrase, uncovering a profound framework for a meaningful Christian life.

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Book SynopsisHigh-Interest Guide Sure to Spark Curiosity and ConversationA surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses. This concise high-interest approach appeals to the curious as well as readers concerned about incorrect theology.

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Book SynopsisA unique, relational way for women to read the Bible that focuses on learning more about God and growing closer to Him.

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Book SynopsisPopular Moody Bible professor helps you discover the world Jesus lived in--the time between the Old and New Testaments--in this friendly, thorough guide.

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Book SynopsisIn the second study in the Victory Series, bestselling author Neil Anderson will deepen your understanding of God, the Trinity, and what it means to have assurance of salvation.

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Book SynopsisTozer's teachings on the book of Hebrews examine what it means to dwell in God's presence. Explore the epistle's sweeping grasp of history and see your own struggles in the "hero stories" recounted there.

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Book SynopsisHow ancient Christian debates concerning Moses' ability to see God embroiled social rivalries and defined the limits of humanity.Trade Review"Jared Calaway is distinct in his push to understand the history of the reception of Exodus 33:20 and Numbers 12:8 within and across early Christian contexts and networks. A sociological lens gives his study teeth and offers broader implications than more traditional studies that remain exegetically bound to authorial meaning or traditional faith." April DeConick, Rice University and author of The Gnostic New Age: How a Countercultural Spirituality Revolutionized Religion From Antiquity to Today

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisIn this weekly devotional, two Bible experts guide readers through fifty-two of the Bible's most famous stories, revealing how each is critical to a full understanding of Christian beliefs, values, practices, and God's overarching plan for redemption.

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Book SynopsisIntroduces Greek students to the field of linguistics and shows how its findings can increase their understanding of the New Testament.

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Book SynopsisAn exceptionally helpful guide for pastors and teachers. Its literary, exegetical, and theological analyses will enrich any exposition of Genesis.

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Book SynopsisContains selections from the German Bible and theologians such as Luther, Barth, Thielicke, and Riesner. The dictionary defines over 20,000 terms.Table of ContentsBook 1: Theological German ReaderPart 1: Selections from the Bible1. Matthäus 3,1-172. Lukas 18, 18-433. Johannes 1, 1-184. Apostelgeschichte 9, 1-255. Römer 5,1-216. 2 Korinther 4, 1-187. 1 Johannes 2, 1-298. 1 Mose 1, 1-319. 1 Mose 3, 1-2410. Psalm 90, 1-1711. Psalm 103, 1-2212. Jesaja 54, 1-1713. Jeremia 1, 4-1914. Hesekiel 37, 1-2815. Daniel 6, 15-29Part 2: Selections from Theologians16. Der Glaube allein--Martin Luther17. Johannes 1, 29--Adolf Schlatter18. Das Reich Gottes bei Hesekiel--Albert Schweitzer19. Das Liebe--Karl Barth20. Jesus--Karl Barth21. Unser Sinn ist in Jesus--Dietrich Bonhoeffer22. Der verlorene Sohn--Helmut Thielicke23. Sammlung und Durchbruch (Micha 2, 12.13)--Hans Walter Wolff24. Das Alte Testament und der Kanon--Peter Stuhlmacher, Helmut Claß25. Jahwe--Dietrich Mend26. Das Friedensreich der Endzeit--Theo Sorg27. Der Zweck der Schrift, die Heilsgeschichte und die Stellung des Christus--Gerhard Maier28. Die Frühzeit des Apostel Paulus--Rainer Riesner29. Jesus als Lehrer--Rainer RiesnerBook 2: Theological German Dictionary

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Book SynopsisReadings from a variety of genres provide Bible readers with essential background information on the New Testament.

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Book SynopsisInspires and instructs students and pastors to use the Hebrew Bible appropriately in their preaching and teaching. Includes sample sermons and lessons.

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Book SynopsisA survey of intertestamental Judaism focusing on the customs and controversies which provide insight into the New Testament.

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Book SynopsisA guide to essential aspects of Old Testament exegesis.Table of Contents1. Interpreting the Old Testament: Principles and Steps Craig C. Broyles2. Language and Text of the Old TestamentDavid W. Baker3. Reading the Old Testament as LiteratureV. Philips Long4. Old Testament History and SociologyJohn Bimson5. Traditions, Intertextuality, and CanonCraig C. Broyles6. The History of Religion, Biblical Theology, and ExegesisElmer A. Martens7. Ancient Near Eastern StudiesRichard S. Hess8. Compositional HistoryPaul Hughes9. Theology and the Old TestamentJonathan R. Wilson

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Book SynopsisSome Christians proclaim that the King James Bible alone is inspired. The author refutes this view, explaining how texts differ and are used in translation.

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Book SynopsisIntroduces college students to the Book of Hebrews--introductory issues, overarching themes, and the overall argument of the book. Includes several pedagogical features.

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Book SynopsisThere is often an unfortunate division between the technical work of biblical scholars and the practical work of preachers who construct sermons each week. These two fields of study, which ought to be mutually informed and supportive, are more often practically divided by divergent methods, interests, and goals. Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching aims to bridge that divide. Using narrative as an organizing theme, the contributors work through the New Testament offering examples of how interpretation can rightly inform proclamation. Three pairs of chapters feature an exemplary reading by a New Testament scholar followed by a sermon informed by that reading. Introductory and concluding chapters provide guidance for application of the model. Pastors and seminarians will find here a uniquely practical work that will help them with both the reading and preaching of Scripture.

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Book SynopsisThese themes of the Epistle to the Romans help readers understand the major components of Paul's vision of life, providing postmoderns with the big picture of his biblical worldview.Table of ContentsIntroduction1. The Commission and Its Context: Romans 1:1-152. Intuitions of Goodness-and Divine Tzedakah: Romans 1:16-173. War against Goodness: Romans 1:18-324. Israel Joins the Fray: Romans 2:1-3:205. The Divine Counter: Romans 3:21-316. Faith's Awakening: Romans 4:1-257. Just Cause for Joy: Romans 5:1-118. Freedom versus Freedom: Romans 5:12-6:239. The Goals and Goodness of the Law: Romans 7:1-8:1310. At Home in the Cosmos: Romans 8:14-3911. The Triumph of God in History: Romans 9:1-11:3612. On Living the Good Life: Romans 12:1-16:27 Index

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